Auto Accident Checklist

STEP ONE: What to do if you have been involved in an auto accident.

• Stop your car. Determine the extent of damage and injuries.
  
• Stay calm. Panic can make others panic and the situation worse.
  
• Move as far off the roadway as possible, but stay at the scene of the accident. Warn oncoming traffic by activating your hazard warning lights or setting flares.
  
• Call the police to report the accident. When the police arrive, ask the investigating officer where to obtain a copy of the police report.
  
• Do not admit fault or liability for the car accident or discuss the car accident with anyone other than the police and your claims representative.With everyone all shook up it can be hard not to talk about what just happened, but that can also lead to you not thinking clearly and accurately about what happened.
  
• Exchange vital information with the other driver involved in the car accident. Write down the name, address, phone number and license numbers for all drivers, passengers, and witnesses, particularly those who were not riding in a vehicle involved in the accident (pedestrians, bicycle riders, etc.). Ask for the insurance companies and policy numbers for drivers involved in the car accident. When you exchange information with the other driver and give the facts to the police, do not feel obligated to admit responsibility for the accident. The things that you say immediately following an accident may be used against you during the course of litigation. You may think that you were responsible for the accident and later learn that the other driver caused it or the other driver was equally at fault.
  
• Record the details of the accident while they are fresh in your memory. Draw a diagram to recreate the scene. Be sure to include important landmarks to help determining where certain events happened. Also include the following:
  • Time of the accident
  • Weather conditions
  • Directions of travel prior to accident (all involved)
  • Condition of vehicles (bald tires, broken headlights, missing mirrors)
  • What parts of the vehicles were damaged
  • Quick sketch of approximate angle of collision and where the cars contacted each other.
  • Note any traffic devices (stop sign, yield sign, speed sign, traffic light, school zone, etc.) or roadway striping (double yellow, bike lane, crosswalk, etc.)
  • Name and contact information for any and all witnesses
    
• Before you allow a truck driver to pick up your car, be sure to ask the driver how much it will cost and tell the driver where to take the car. Get the name, address, license number, registration number, and telephone number of the driver and the towing company.

If you have a camera, take as many photographs as possible of the vehicles, accident scene, and surrounding area. As much basic information as possible should be gathered immediately after the accident occurred. As time passes, memories tend to fade and new versions of the chain of events are created. Putting the basic information down on paper helps later when liability for the accident begins to be examined. 

>> Go To Step 2

How to find help during the accident process

The Accident Resource has compiled a host of professional directories to help you locate qualified professionals who can help you through the traffic accident process. Our professional directories help you locate qualified personal injury attorneys, medical specialists (chiropractic specialists), insurance companies, expert witnesses, traffic investigation police and others. We have broken everything down so you can easily find qualified professionals in your area.

                                       >> Access the Directories